The Impact of Trauma on Society

Injury has become a major cause of fatality and disability in countries of all economic levels, affecting the youngest and most productive members of society. Many trauma victims continue to suffer from residual issues such as long-term physical impairments and disabilities, as well as psychological distress and chronic pain, which all further impact functional outcome and overall quality of life. Early psychotherapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and collaborative care approaches may prevent further psychological sequelae following the acute phases of trauma. Factors contributing to a delayed return to work include injury severity, pre-injury characteristics of the patient, characteristics of the pre-injury occupation, motivation to work, receipt of disability compensation, and baseline measures of physical functioning, pain, anxiety and depression. Trauma also has a direct impact on personal environments and satisfaction in private lives, with respect to participating in unpaid activities such as household work, shopping and caregiving. There is a psychological stress burden placed on family members of trauma victims, and thus feelings of isolation, financial constraints and transportation concerns are all issues that require comprehensive support services. There is a growing global burden of trauma, which is disproportionately concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The greatest burden of injury falls on those countries with the weakest evidence to guide and implement intervention strategies, the scarcest resources and the least developed infrastructure to effect change.